Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: kajman on August 08, 2008, 09:26:29 PM

Title: My needles won't wake up!
Post by: kajman on August 08, 2008, 09:26:29 PM
Hi Guys.
Just came in from being under the hood of my Jeep Cherokee 2.5TD having had no luck in trying to get my Petrol and Battery gauges to work upon turning over the engine. Trouble is, the Jeep starts and runs for about 4 seconds then cuts out. In the past, I've bashed the top of the instrument panel and somehow they come alive, and away I go. Feels a tad terminal this time. looked at fuses, wiggled wires, yet nothing. I've had it around 3 years, and apart from the infamous speedo and rev counter failures, its been pretty damn ok. Maybe theres a link between these instruments working and fuel being disrtibuted??
Anyhow, went online, found this cracking site, and here I am....Stationary!!
Any thoughts teckies?
P.s its a 1997 model
kajman
Title:
Post by: greggmo on August 08, 2008, 10:03:24 PM
welcome to birtys. i am sure there will be some answers soon. in the mean time pop into intros and tell us about you and your jeep. 8-)
Title:
Post by: kajman on August 11, 2008, 05:37:03 PM
still cant get it to go. Anybody got any ideas? :shock:
Title:
Post by: kajman on September 05, 2008, 10:48:33 AM
I know its wet and miserable, and were all dreaming of sun and beaches, but can anyone answer my jeep problem. Its been stuck on my drive for 3 weeks. Cheers guys :cry:
Title:
Post by: wiltshire Pirate on September 05, 2008, 11:00:56 AM
I notice you have a Jeep Cherokee 2.5TD model so you shouldn't have a petrol gauge fuel gauge my be. hehehehe, it may be the connections behind the dash? big job to take that out plus you need a dry day, just a thought
Title:
Post by: kajman on September 05, 2008, 09:05:10 PM
your attention to detail is impressive!ha Cheers, thought this might be the case, though would it be the cause of my diesel jeep with petrol gauges ;) to cut out like it does?
kaj
Title:
Post by: Panic mechanic! on September 05, 2008, 09:44:04 PM
try unscrewing the fuse box under the dash and checking for loose  wires to start with, I have known a few people have problems with earth wires to the fusebox.sometimes if an aftermarket alarm is fitted they unsettle them and this causes a problem a few years after fitment, where are you by the way?
Title:
Post by: barttheguinnessguy on September 06, 2008, 11:42:30 PM
Does yours have the pump, on top of the fuel filter housing? If so, pump it up unill you feel loads of resistance, and then try starting it. If its better, try changing your fuel filter :roll:

Mines a "Series one" (pre facelift though)
Title:
Post by: kajman on September 07, 2008, 04:43:59 PM
thanks guys for your help. Tried the pump on the fuel filter theory, but, still no go. I'm sure its something electrical, as when I have previously run the jeep, the diesel and battery meters have worked too. Then, like now when I crank it up, it runs then cuts out almost immediately in line with those needles NOT working. Bizarre. Its like the lack of these needles working engages a fuel cut out. Fuses look ok, the wiring looms under the foot well are indistinguishable to me. Does anybody have a pdf wiring diagram for a Jeep Cherokee TD ltd 1997? Failing that, do haynes do a wiring edition for jeeps?
I'm in Wolverhampton panic mechanic.
Cheers, Kaj
Title:
Post by: Dave69 on September 07, 2008, 07:13:20 PM
taking the binnicle out on the xj is no real hard job. three screws at the top of the cluster and three below and some along the base of the walnut finish cover and that wil pop out. the instrument cluster is held in by four screws and then check the electrical contacts behind. it might be a struggle to get the veneer cover past the steering wheel but it does slide past.